C2 Body Dolly Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 884
Likes: 1
From: Blacksburg Virginia
C2 Body Dolly Question
Those of you that have pulled the body off of the frame, does the dolly give you any room to clean the underbody? If not what is the secret to doing that without building a body jig of some sort or having a means to hang it high enough to get under it. I am restricted with 8ft ceiling and no means of taking body outside with a bobcat or loader?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 419
From: Melbourne FL
Are you buying a dolly? I built my own to do a friends frame off and it had the body about 4' off the ground which would have been sufficient for sitting up while working on the underside.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 381
From: Strongsville, OH
2016 C2 of the Year Finalist
You could build one like this but make it taller: http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_.../BodyDolly.pdf 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
From: VA
I thought I would add a few inches to Nolands....wrong!
Must make sure you have the clearence to lift the to body that high to make it onto your dolly!! Ending up trimming the dolly back down.
I used a engine hoist to lift the body BTW. So I was limited by the max lift hight of the hoist.
So check all those mumbers prior to building a really high dolly.
Must make sure you have the clearence to lift the to body that high to make it onto your dolly!! Ending up trimming the dolly back down.
I used a engine hoist to lift the body BTW. So I was limited by the max lift hight of the hoist.
So check all those mumbers prior to building a really high dolly.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 884
Likes: 1
From: Blacksburg Virginia
Thanks for the information! Yes I am using the Nolan Adams plan that I got off of this site. So I will check to see how high the hoist will lift the body so I can add to the height. I was hoping I wouldn't have to build or buy a jig or similiar device. That just adds expense to the project. Also I am torn on what to do with the body off. The person whom I purchased the 64 had the entire suspension replaced so I was hoping to just clean up the frame, rust proof and paint. But now people are telling me I am crazy if I don't completely disassemble and have the frame media blasted and powder coated. Those of you who have done body offs what are your thoughts and recommendations? My car is an original driver I don't care about it being Bloomington Gold perfect. The reason I am doing this is the gas and brake lines are original and look questionable so I want to replace them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 26
From: Cave Creek AZ
When I did my body off project I wire brushed the entire frame using an air grinder with a very aggressive wire wheel. Then painted it with POR15. If you don't like the glossy finish you can use POR15 chassis coat black which is more of a dull finish.
Roy
Roy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 223
From: Temecula CA
Another Dolly Approach
My dolly is basically a big rectangle with removable legs. Shown are the short legs used when painting. The "long" legs give you another 18" which was great for de-gunking the body underside. Used EMT thinwall conduit for bracing. Works just great.
The only change I will make next time is to create a narrowed front section from the firewall forward. Like Noland's "2 boxes" concept. This will allow easy entrance to the engine bay via the wheelwells. Just need to add 2 more wheels where the boxes join together.
Last edited by Mike Geary; Nov 1, 2008 at 05:36 PM. Reason: spelling correct
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 41
From: Toronto
When I did my body off project I wire brushed the entire frame using an air grinder with a very aggressive wire wheel. Then painted it with POR15. If you don't like the glossy finish you can use POR15 chassis coat black which is more of a dull finish.
Roy
That looks great.
Por-15 has to be painted on, I believe.
Does it end up looking like there are brush lines, or does it settle and appear smooth when done?
Roy
That looks great.
Por-15 has to be painted on, I believe.
Does it end up looking like there are brush lines, or does it settle and appear smooth when done?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 26
From: Cave Creek AZ
Roy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 419
From: Melbourne FL
Thanks for the information! Yes I am using the Nolan Adams plan that I got off of this site. So I will check to see how high the hoist will lift the body so I can add to the height. I was hoping I wouldn't have to build or buy a jig or similiar device. That just adds expense to the project. Also I am torn on what to do with the body off. The person whom I purchased the 64 had the entire suspension replaced so I was hoping to just clean up the frame, rust proof and paint. But now people are telling me I am crazy if I don't completely disassemble and have the frame media blasted and powder coated. Those of you who have done body offs what are your thoughts and recommendations? My car is an original driver I don't care about it being Bloomington Gold perfect. The reason I am doing this is the gas and brake lines are original and look questionable so I want to replace them.
Oh yeah, one last thing...I replaced all the body mounts! All that and I still didn't pull the body off! You know why? Because I did all the above within a few weeks time and if I had pulled the body, it would have stretched out into months before I was driving it again.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
My dolly is basically a big rectangle with removable legs. Shown are the short legs used when painting. The "long" legs give you another 18" which was great for de-gunking the body underside. Used EMT thinwall conduit for bracing. Works just great.
The only change I will make next time is to create a narrowed front section from the firewall forward. Like Noland's "2 boxes" concept. This will allow easy entrance to the engine bay via the wheelwells. Just need to add 2 more wheels where the boxes join together.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 884
Likes: 1
From: Blacksburg Virginia
What would be great is to take the Noland Adams design and add metal scaffolding type legs with pin height adjustments. This way you could raise and lower the body as needed with some friend help. I would rather grind the frame and do the hard muscle work than have to totally disassemble the front and rear suspensions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 26
From: Cave Creek AZ
Hi Louis: Not much really. I made sure the inside was clean, replaced the pick-up screen, filler pipe & sending unit gasket, wire brushed the outside to remove the surface rust and then primed and painted it with Rust-Oleum black in a rattle can. I also replaced the cork anti-squeak strips and mounting straps. My car is a driver so I am not worried about what color it is. My goal was to prevent future rust.
Roy
Roy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 10
From: Dallas TX
When I did my body off project I wire brushed the entire frame using an air grinder with a very aggressive wire wheel. Then painted it with POR15. If you don't like the glossy finish you can use POR15 chassis coat black which is more of a dull finish.
Roy
That looks great.
Por-15 has to be painted on, I believe.
Does it end up looking like there are brush lines, or does it settle and appear smooth when done?
Roy
That looks great.
Por-15 has to be painted on, I believe.
Does it end up looking like there are brush lines, or does it settle and appear smooth when done?
CF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Using a high dolly will enable you to sit on a stool and do whatever work you want. Lifting from 2 points will enable you to get the body high enough with the 8ft ceiling. I've heard of guys using trailer jacks on each side of the body to lift it up - maybe someone will chime in who has done that. Jerry 
CF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
